Kwacha Conference Centre in Blantyre is renowned for hosting marriage or engagements events. But never when National Elections results are being tallied within the vast stomach of this magnificent hall also known as COMESA.
The hall has been performing the later task from Tuesday, May19,2009 following Malawi's historic fourth elections since the re-advent of multiparty politics in 1994. Pitied against each other were John Tembo, the joint Malawi Congress Party/United Democratic Front presidential candidate and Bingu wa Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
It is Bingu who has triumphed by landing an overwhelming 2,730,630 slide against Tembo's 1,270,057. This was despite that full results were not in from some 10 constituencies in Machinga, Phalombe, Blantyre, among other areas.
But the result had to take patience and endurance as observers and media personnel were kept waiting for the results, as electoral staff worked 24/7 not to miss the simplest detail. It also had to take 01:08am, the time it took EC chairperson, Justice Anastasia Msosa, to declare Mutharika the overall winner.
This sent a cross section of DPP supporters gathered in the room into some sort of temporary madness, as they started jubilating and sinsing just as Msosa was to make the all-important announcement.
It had to take Chief Elections Officer, David Bandawe, to call the jubilant supporters to order before Msosa announced the common knowledge that Mutharika had carried the day.
Critics had said before announcent of the results listeners outside COMESA were more informed than those within (the tally centre) as they were kept abreast of current voting statistics almost every minute through unofficial radio results.
Former president, Bakili Muluzi's son Atupele, also witnessed the declaration of the presidency of Mutharika, whom his father had already congratulated earlier on.
Seven candidates contested in the presidential election. They are Mutharika, 2,730,630; Kamuzu Chibambo of Peoples Transformation Party 31,960; Loveness Gondwe of the New Rainbow Alliance 29,705; Stanly Masauli (Republican Party) 31,303; Alliance for Democracy's Dindi Gowa Nyasulu, 19,024; and independent presidential candidate James Nyondo, 25,171 votes.
Jubilant DPP supporters then turned the tally centre into what it is known for- intertainment, when they danced 'Sendela' and other party songs.
The way the music came, it must have been well prepared.
AEP/richard chirombo
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